PRAYERS TO THE TTWANAMMI 



659 



The pekw-in has no eton-e or priestly bundle. He has pots of black 

 paint brought from the underworld and undoubtedly other cere- 

 monial paraphernalia. But his altar lacks the water and seed-filled 

 reeds which constitute the most sacred and potent possessions of the 

 other priests. He is thought to be so pure in heart that he has no 

 need of magic to make his prayers effective. Therefore, before going 

 into retreat he plants his prayer sticks not at a spring, but in his corn- 

 field. He does not bring back a jug of the sacred water of some 

 spring to place on his altar. For the first part of his retreat "he tries 

 himself." He sits down before an altar consisting only of his paint 

 pots on a painting of meal. It lacks even the bowl of medicine water. 

 As soon as the first rain falls he may mix his medicine in the fresh rain 

 water. If no rain falls, he must continue until the end without even 

 this frail aid to prayer. He is tested at each retreat, and it is always 

 a point of special note whether or not his days are blessed with rain. 



The following prayer is recited at the beginning of his retreat. The 

 first part is spoken outside when he plants his prayer sticks, the latter 

 half after he returns to his home.'° 



This many are the days, 



Since the new year, 



The cycle of tlie months of our 



fathers, 

 The ones that first had being. 

 This many days 

 We have awaited our time. 

 It has come to summer. 

 My fathers, 

 My mothers, 

 10 The ones that first had being, 

 Your day goes on. 

 Not long ago, 



At the middle of the year " 

 I made my fathers' days." 

 15 This many were the days of the 



rain makers of all directions. 

 And now that my fathers' days 



are at an end, 

 20 Yonder, wherever the roads of the 



rain makers come forth,'" 

 Where people pray to finish- their 



roads, 

 There you stand at the borders of 



our land, 

 Male willow, female wiUow. 

 Four times breaking off the 



straight young shoots. 



le'si te'wanan'e 



i'tiwana 



yam a-'tatcu 



tci'mi'Eanapkowa 

 5 a''wan ya'tcu pi'lan-e 



le'si le'wanan hon le'wanan 

 a^'tealfii. 



o'loiEanakwin te"tcika 



hom a-'tatcu 



hom a''tsita 

 10 tci'miEanapkona 



to'na'wan te'wanan a"'ne 



lo'kwa le'tea i'tiwanalfii tea 



j-am a-'tatcu 



a''wan ho te'wanan a'cana 

 15 laJhok" le''wi u'wanam-i 



le'si te'wanan'e 



yam a-'tatcu 



a''wan te'wanan i'te'tcilfatea 

 20 la'lhok" u'wanam-i 



a'wan o'neala kwai"i'kowa 



ho' o'na-ya-'Kana'kwi 



ton luwalan-pa'ltoye 



pilo'tsi pilo'lifa te'ona 

 a'witela'ma a'Eewulkwi'na'kowa 



" Dictated by a man formerly associated with the priesthood ot the Water Serpent. 

 '" The summer solstice. The pekwin plants several times at this time, .\fter that he must keep count 

 ot the days and see that each priesthood goes in on schedule time. 

 " The retreats of the four chief priesthoods. 

 '• At springs and along watercourses. 



